Ronnie Lewis Barnes, 66, of Jarratt, VA passed away on February 11, 2026, at UVA Health Center in Charlottesville, VA surrounded by family. He was born in Petersburg, VA on June 4, 1959, and was the son of Herman Lewis Barnes and Ida Mae Harrup Barnes.
Ronnie was a 1979 graduate of Sussex Central High School in Sussex, VA.
He was a farmer all his life. From a very early age, he knew he wanted to be a farmer, often pretending to be sick so he could stay home from school, only to experience a “miraculous” recovery to help his father on the farm.
He was also an avid deer hunter for most of his life as a member of the Flagtail Hunt Club in Yale, VA, though he gave up hunting in his later years.
Ronnie never met a stranger. That attitude lives on as he donated his liver and both kidneys so that three other people might continue to live.
Surviving are his three sisters, Diane Buntyon (Eddie) of Rhoadesville, VA, Sandy Banty of Yale, VA, and Pam Dahmer (Roger) of Franklin, WV. He is also survived by nieces, April (AP) Reynolds (Brad), Sheena Gilreath (Vince), and Erin Boswell (Tony), and nephews Joey Banty (Ashleigh), Justin Dahmer, and Ryan Dahmer (Emily). He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews. Also surviving is an uncle, Lonnie Barnes.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents.
Ronnie has been cremated. There will be no funeral or memorial service.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
303 S. Halifax Rd P.O. Box 475, Jarratt, VA 23867

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